Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Monday, October 27, 2014

I blog because my life is perfect and I cannot wait to share my how-tos with the world.

Uh . . . .

NO!

I blog even though life is very imperfect. Not to cover up the imperfections, or to pretend they don't exist. Not to deny that I face certain anxieties about the state of the world, or to pretend that they don't exist. Instead, blogging (for me) is about making a concerted effort to put my own positive mark on the world. I suspect it's the same for others out there.

Blogging, both writing my own and reading others', provides a bit of healthy escapism. In posting pretty photos, in sharing stories, never in a million years am I trying to tell the world I'm perfect, my life is perfect, and aren't I wonderful. Never in a million years do I think that the people who keep the blogs that are amongst my favorites are trying to convince us they are perfect.

I do not understand it, when I see criticism leveled at (mostly) women who share photos of their homes, their children, their gardens. There are very talented and creative people out there. Rejoice!

Why are people so offended by the little attempts people make to share beauty with the world?

I had an acquaintance about two decades ago who was inexplicably intimidated by Martha Stewart. So much so, whenever anyone made any attempt to do something simple to make the world a prettier place, she'd roll her eyes and say, "Oh, how Martha Stewart!" When at a coffee shop, our whipped cream was topped with a dusting of cocoa, "Oh, how Martha Stewart!" I'm still not sure what's pretentious about dusting whipped cream with cocoa, but I'm guessing she must have been facing insecurities about herself, if she felt the need to belittle others' attempts at small efforts to make things pretty. That's sad, because if she'd served me cocoa at her house without the dusting of cocoa or even without the whipped cream, I'm not sure I'd even notice.

I've noticed this same thing about blogging, Pinterest, Instagram, and the like. There's a certain segment of society that is very offended by anyone who shares their poetry, photography, or physical activity on the internet. I've even stumbled upon entire websites devoted to being snarky about some of the superbloggers out there. (Gee, what a waste of time!)

[Mind you, this does NOT apply to Pinterest Fail. That is a truly hilarious website. Maybe it's the difference between an attitude of "I don't think I could ever make anything pretty, bake anything lovely, write inspiring poetry so I shall mock anyone else who does" and an attitude of "I do enjoy 'Better Homes & Gardens,' but I certainly have my limitations!"]

Saturday, October 25, 2014

There has been a lot going on lately that has kept me from this blog. Not even 7 Quick-Take Fridays! When I miss out on posting my takes on Fridays, it means I'm also too busy to check in with others. And I miss those connections, even if they aren't technically connections because I don't even leave comments at most of the places I visit. Still, I follow along with the life journeys, the random thoughts, and the photo essays of men and women all around the (English-speaking) planet.

Tiresome apologies for blogging - in which a busy mother of a handful of kids will NOT apologize for keeping a blog. It's a great post and I identified with what she had to share even though my blog is very small and unambitious. Here's my favorite part of that link:

Blogs for sure -- but even Twitter and Facebook and whatever comes after those -- I know I am really connecting with real people. Yes, I have a family. Yes, I have responsibilities. You have jobs and I have jobs. And yet, making time for each other to meet one on one -- it's not just allowable; it's good. Intellectual life is not something we must fit in the crevices of our "real" lives. It is in some ways the realest life we have, the life of human beings being human together in the world of knowing and expressing.

Just so! I remember ten years ago, when it was just blogs because there wasn't Facebook or Twitter. Yes, I use Facebook and Twitter, but I miss the days when dialogue wasn't limited to 140 characters. Even if all a blogger does is post a photo, or one paragraph, the blog is more welcoming to me than FB or T. Because of that, I'm pressing on with this blog, even though I have been low on writing ideas whilst submerged with the odds and ends that make up life.

I do, indeed, shut down the computer to read to the toddler, take the kids to museums, or volunteer my time where it is needed. But since the blogosphere is the place I turn to during my down time, when I need to sit down and find a few minutes of inspiration from people out there who like to cook, read, run, or garden - I will continue to toss my own pebble into the ocean of words, stories, and ideas.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Another bunch of rabbit babies in our garden. I suppose I am glad that we are such a hospitable place for wildlife, except that rabbits surprise us with their burrow. I know that those babies were in danger from children and lawn mower before we knew they were there!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Oh, human misery!When, daughters, will we imitate this great God?Oh, let us not think we are doing anything by
suffering injuries, but we should very eagerly endure everything, and let us
love the one who offends us since this great God has not ceased to love us even
though we have offended Him very much.Thus the Lord is right in wanting all to pardon the wrongs done to them.Interior Castle VI, Chapter 10.4

Saturday, October 11, 2014

The Lord asks of us only two things: love of His Majesty
and love of our neighbor.These are what
we must work for.By observing them with
perfection, we do His will and so will be united with Him . . . The most
certain sign, in my opinion, as to whether or not we are observing these two
laws is whether we observe well the love of neighbor.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Yes, this is also ST TERESA OF AVILA: NOVENA DAY
FIVE.Today is a break in the format in
order to highlight 7 from the 7th:Seven Highlights from the Seventh Dwelling
Place for 7 Quick-Takes Friday.
For those who clicked over from 7Quick Takes,
this blog is in the middle of a novena in anticipation of the Feast of St.
Teresa of Avila, coming up on the 15th.I am sharing quotations from Interior Castle for reflection during
the novena; typically one thought per day, except for today.Today features seven highlights from the seventh
dwelling place of Interior Castle.

Each of the quick-takes is from Chapter 4 of Interior Castle VII, ICS
edition.

~ONE~

Mary and Martha must join together in order to show
hospitality to the Lord and have Him always present and not host Him badly by
failing to give Him something to eat.How would Mary, always seated at His feet, provide Him with food if her
sister did not help her?His food is
that in every way possible we draw souls that they may be saved and praise Him
always.

~TWO~

The Lord doesn’t look so much at the greatness of our
works as at the love with which they are done.And if we do what we can, His Majesty will enable us each day to do more
and more.

~THREE~

Do you know what it means to be truly spiritual?It means becoming the slaves of God.

~FOUR~

This is the reason for prayer, my daughters, the purpose
of this spiritual marriage:the birth
always of good works, good works.

~FIVE~

The one among you who feels safest should fear more, for blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
says David.May His Majesty protect us
always.To beseech Him that we not
offend Him is the greatest security we can have.

~SIX~

His Majesty couldn’t grant us a greater favor than to
give us a life that would be an imitation of the life His beloved Son
lived.Thus I hold for certain that
these favors are meant to fortify our weakness, as I have said here at times,
that we may be able to imitate Him in His great sufferings.

~SEVEN~

I already told you elsewhere that sometimes the devil
gives us great desires so that we will avoid setting ourselves to the task at
hand, serving our Lord in possible things, and instead be content with having
desired the impossible.Apart from the fact
that by prayer you will be helping greatly, you need not be desiring to benefit
the whole world but must concentrate on those who are in your company, and thus
your deed will be greater since you are more obliged toward them.Do you think such deep humility, your
mortification, service of all and great charity toward them, and love of the
Lord is of little benefit?The fire of
love in you enkindles their souls, and with every other virtue you will be
always awakening them.Such service will
not be small but very great and very pleasing to the Lord.By what you do in deed – that which you can –
His Majesty will understand that you would do much more.Thus He will give you the reward He would if
you had gained many souls for Him.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Because I have spoken at length on this subject
elsewhere, I will say nothing about it here.I only wish to inform you that in order to profit by this path and
ascend to the dwelling places we desire, the important thing is not to think
much but to love much; and so do that which best stirs you to love.Perhaps we don’t know what love is.I wouldn’t be very surprised, because it
doesn’t consist in great delight but in desiring with strong determination to
please God in everything, in striving, insofar as possible, not to offend Him,
and in asking Him for the advancement of the honor and glory of His Son and the
increase of the Catholic Church.These
are the signs of love.Don’t think the
matter lies in thinking of nothing else, and that if you have become a little
distracted all is lost.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

The whole aim of any person who is beginning prayer – and
don’t forget this, because it’s very important – should be that he work and
prepare himself with determination and every possible effort to bring his will
into conformity with God’s will.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Let’s strive to make more progress in
self-knowledge.In my opinion we shall
never completely know ourselves if we don’t strive to know God.By gazing at His grandeur, we get in touch
with our own lowliness; by looking at His purity, we shall see our own filth;
by pondering His humility, we shall see how far we are from being humble.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

One Carmelite Feast Day on top of another!St. Therese had her novena and Feast Day noted on this blog.Now it is St. Teresa of Avila’s turn.

Tomorrow will begin the first day for anyone wishing to pray a novena leading up to St. Teresa’s Feast Day on October 15.I will be posting quotations from St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle.The edition from which I take my quotes is the ICS version.Such a rich treasure is Interior Castle.It was difficult to find highlights to share because there are so many jewels in this work.I state the obvious.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

I feel especially that my mission is about to
begin, my mission of making God loved as I love Him, of giving my little way to
souls.If God answers my desires, my
heaven will be spend on earth until the end of the world.Yes, I want to spend my heaven in doing good
on earth.